Is 8 hours a day too long to crate?

[EMWAZ]

fired up

I have to admit it gets me really fired up when you people call it abuse. You have no idea how each dog lives or how they are treated. If you have never tried crating, you don't really know do you? Also isn't neglect a form of abuse too, if you allow you pets to be in a position where they can harm themselves, i.e. electrical cords, poisons, isn't that abuse also!!

The facts of life are your dogs cannot always go with you because society does not allow it, if they did ours would just like children.

 

[jicksies]

Crating as an easy way out?

I have to once again reply to the issue of crating..(one last time I promise!!! ) I have to agree with JulieM...For those of you considering a Boxer puppy, it's crucial that you take into account the MANY sacrifices you must make; especially when they're still pups. One sacrifice is LESS SLEEP! I know I was up several times each nite when I first brought Booder and Barley home...letting them out to potty, comforting them when needed etc. My pups were "crated" during their naptimes and at bedtime as well but I slept here in the living room next to the crate so they could feel my presence and I could let them out. I have two teenage boys but I swear it was like having a baby again! Anyway, two cents worth...consider a Boxer puppy only after much thought and EDUCATION. I have more books on Boxers than anything else!! LOL...Anyway, everyone take care and please remember these pups need US to help them grow into good-tempered, lovable dogs and a valuable part of the family.

 

[Wind]

To Aimee regarding Crating

I think that myself and at least another person who has posted on this subject indicated that we don't plan to crate our babies at night forever. Just until they can be trusted and not have accidents or chew up something they should not...like furniture, or something more serious, something that can hurt them. We only plan to cage Harley at night until he doesn't eat things that can hurt him. We do train him and he is a wonderful addition to our family, but he also is a baby...he touches things he should not. Just like a baby is in a crib until he is bigger...just like a child is in diapers...Harley won't be in the cage forever, but for now, he is doing just fine in his own little home...

 

[JulieM]

Here's where we really get into minute differences of opinion. I do *not* think it is OK to crate a 10-week old puppy for 5 hours a day. I still don't know why Meri thinks it is, but I don't think I ever will. Crating at night to aid with housebreaking can work, as long as you are getting up regularly to take the puppy outside. (The puppy may whine and cry to let you know it needs to go out, but it may not.)

We did not crate our puppies at night. They slept in the bed with us. Trust me, when a puppy gets up in the middle of the night and tries to get out of bed, you know it. (They kind of teeter along the edge for a while, afraid to jump from so high up!) Now that we are raising litters (instead of single puppies), the puppies all sleep together in an ex-pen which has a large crate bottom for sleeping and a separate newspaper area for pottying. Once they get to be about 6 weeks we start working on housetraining, and if you thinking getting up at 2 a.m. to let a puppy out is fun, just try it with 6!

My dogs are crated during the day, but let me point out yet again that they are not crated at night. They are, however, confined to the bedroom via a baby gate. Being asleep with them three rooms away is the same as not being home, IMO. In the bedroom there are very few things they can get to that would be dangerous, and anything that would be I'd definitely hear them getting (they'd have to move various "blockades"). I do agree that 16 hours of crating seems extreme; however I know my dogs sleep at least 16 hours a day. Who's to say that they can't do that sleeping in a crate (half the time they choose to go in their crates to sleep, anyway)?

Julie

 

[Wind]

Crating---one last time

Ok, we are cruel for those of us a cage or crate...but I guess then since we work full time...I guess we should not have kids either. Do you realize how many animals are mistreated each year. I can't tell you enough how many people that have beautiful dogs and don't pay any attention to them. It seems like the folks here that crate adore their Boxers and treat them with love and kindness and like ONE OF THE FAMILY when we are home. I think that people that do crate are at least are concerned enough for their animal to protect them from harm. It's almost like you all are telling us that we don't deserve to have a Boxer because we crate. You are lucky for those of you that can stay home or have someone that can come in, but for those of us that don't have that luxury we keep our babies safe and HAPPY in a cage or crate. Boxers are great dogs...but just like people, they each have their own separate personality...if you love them, adore them, pay attention to them, they will be wonderful addition to the family. I think that anyone that has dished out some money for a Boxer knows what kind of dog they are getting...but to say we are cruel is a terrible thing to say. Tell the people that don't love their animals and tell the people that don't treat their Boxers as a family member, tell the people that get a animal and do nothing with it...

Ok...I'm done...

Cruel and mean signing off this subject!

 

[Pierpoint]

Thought I was done with this subject but just had to respond to Wind. Well Said! Bravo! There are so many cruelty-to-animal people out there, I can't imagine anyone calling us cruel. I've heard horrible stories and I always feel that if those cruel people were close to me, I'd choke them. How can anyone leave a poor dog on a chain all day with no socialization, potential to choke, being rained and snowed on, etc. No way. A warm comfortable crate is the way to go. My poor baby would be heartbroken if I did that and who could look into those eyes and walk away? But it's done.

So think again people. We love our boxers. They are safe and loved. I just got back to work from lunch and, as usual, Bailey ran right into his crate (he knows he's going to get a frozen cheez whiz kong!) He also knows it's not time for his parents to be off work yet. When we get home, he stands up, stretches, and is ready to greet us with his little dance. And then off we go for his run.

 

[Wind]

To Pierpoint

Don't ya just love the little dance they do...Harley does such cute little "c's"....and the best invention for an active Boxer....THE KONG...Harley loves his to death...he loves his peanut butter!!!

Ya know, I hope no one has hard feelings about my replies...but I don't think I am cruel...I think Harley is more spoiled than my daughter....he knows he is loved and adored...and he knows his cage is his home...and he doesn't mind it at all....

Peace...

 

[danjr]

I guess I'm cruel too...

I agree with Wind as well.

#1 If I don't crate my boys, they'll freeze outside.
#2 If I don't crate my boys, they'll tear up my house and could run the risk of getting hurt.
#3 This is getting to be a tired subject.

I love my Boxers like they ARE human... Here's to ya my sweet boys! Daddy loves you!

I'll be sure that when I get home from work today that I apologize to them for being inhumane. They won't care and will mob me for lovin and 'goin to get the mail'.

dj


Proud Father of:
Wildhart's Tribute to Harlie (Jake, Jakeepoo, Moe, JakeMo)
and
Wildhart's Reason to Believe (Elwood, Wood, Woodrow)

'The Boxer Blues Brothers'

 

[Aimee]

Re: fired up

Originally posted by EMWAZ
Also isn't neglect a form of abuse too, if you allow you pets to be in a position where they can harm themselves, i.e. electrical cords, poisons, isn't that abuse also!!

Just to clarify, I allow my dogs a section of the house when we are not home. This area is what we called "baby proofed". They do not have access to anything that can harm them. They have plenty of room to stretch out, water, windows to watch the world go by, sun rays, toys, pillows. They also have each other and if they are restless they can play together, which they do. This provides them a SAFE environment to play, sleep, chew on bones or lounge in the sun rays. This to me is a great way for them to spend the few hours they are home alone. This is not a form of abuse. I think everyone is getting too emotionally involved in this topic. As I said before, there are alot of animal lovers on this board and I would rather see a dog crated for 8/9 hours a day in a loving home than in the shelter or out on the street. But the question was raised as to what everyones opinions on crating for 8/9 hours were. We are each entitled to have our opinions and there are those of us that do not agree with crating for EXTENDED periods of time. I own a crate but it isn't necessary for me to use it. Remember folks, we all come from different walks of life and everything is not always going to be black or white. I think we should give this topic a rest...

 

[trevor'smom]

Thanks Aimee. It's good to know I'm not alone. It just doesn't seem fair to crate a dog for a total of 16 hours in one day. And I did crate Trevor at night when he was a puppy. We kept the crate in our bedroom so he would know we were there, and because my husband doesn't want him sleeping with us on the bed. But now we just let him have downstairs to himself, and we gate the stairs so he can't come up and sleep with us. If it were up to me, Trevor could sleep in our bed all he wants, but Rob doesn't want to compete for bed space! :o)